"Just Press Play" gets second-place nod

The Encampment yearbook staff earned second place at the 1A state yearbook competition for their 2014 yearbook "Just Press Play".

Karie Russell, who is in her third year as editor of the yearbook, said she is most proud of the videos in the yearbook.

Rick Martin, Encampment's yearbook advisor, introduced an idea of adding a video to last year's team of Russell and Kaylyn Wessel. Russell said she thought it was a really cool idea.

According to Russell, the judges agreed, it was a "cool new thing to try". Not many yearbooks submitted had tried the idea, Russell said.

Russell would video events like plays, games, competitions and graduation. In the 2014 yearbook, the staff created a little tiger named Beazley and when the mobile device scans Beazley's face, videos come up.

To download the application, people follow the instructions in the yearbook.

Russell said she really liked the idea because "In a couple of years, we want to go look back and see those fun times and special moments."

"It was a lot of work," Russell said. She and Wessel spent time volunteering during the events, after school and even after graduation to complete the yearbook. Afterward, she edited the video and uploaded it to the internet site. Not only did they take videos, but they photos for the yearbook too.

With only two students and one advisor, it took extra time to set up the videos for the yearbook, Russell said.

Russell has been the yearbook editor all three years of her high school career. The first year, it took hard work to earn the position of editor, she said. The following years, she had the experience, and continued to hold the editor position.

Russell said she has thought about going into journalism, but she is not sure yet.

Her favorite part of being an editor is designing the cover and the templates. "Making sure they turn out perfect and exactly how I want (the templates)."

The worst part of being an editor is the fact it is more work. She continues to be the editor because she enjoys doing it and wants to make sure the yearbook turns out being the best it can be.

In the yearbook classroom, the students write the stories, write cutlines, design templates and sell advertising to raise money to publish the yearbook.

"It is a lot harder than people think it probably is," Russell said. She said it gives her insight on what it is like to publish a book, a yearbook or a newspaper.

This year, Russell has extra help as three students are signed up for the yearbook class.